Shared Experience: Art and War

A Rescue-ship in the Atlantic: March 1943

The view is from a ship’s upper deck as it breaks off from a convoy to attempt a rescue. Plante’s own description of a U-Boat attack on a tanker carrying a cargo of benzene fits this image: “The effect was complete and instantaneous – a great blossoming of flame as torpedo and benzene exploded together.” There were no survivors from the incident and the desperation of the on-duty crew dressed in oilskins is evident.